Paris falls under German occupation and German troops march past the
Arc de Triomphe, following exactly the same route that the victorious French troops coming home from the First World War, 22 years previously.
Operation Aerial begins –
Allied troops start to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation.
LuftwaffeJunkers Ju 88 bomber sinks
RMS Lancastria, serving as a British
troopship evacuating troops and nationals from near
Saint-Nazaire, with the loss of at least 4,000 lives, immediate news of which is suppressed in the British press.
24 June –
Vichy France signs armistice terms with Italy.
28 June – General
Charles de Gaulle is officially recognized by Britain as "Leader of all
Free Frenchmen, wherever they may be."
3 July –
Attack on Mers-el-Kébir: British naval units sink or seize ships of the French fleet anchored in the
Algerian ports of
Mers El Kébir and
Oran to prevent them from falling into German hands.
4 July –
Vichy France breaks off diplomatic relations with Britain.
12 September –
Lascaux: 17,000-year-old
cave paintings are discovered by a group of young Frenchmen hiking through Southern France. The paintings depict animals and date to the
Stone Age.
Paris falls under German occupation and German troops march past the
Arc de Triomphe, following exactly the same route that the victorious French troops coming home from the First World War, 22 years previously.
Operation Aerial begins –
Allied troops start to evacuate France, following Germany's takeover of Paris and most of the nation.
LuftwaffeJunkers Ju 88 bomber sinks
RMS Lancastria, serving as a British
troopship evacuating troops and nationals from near
Saint-Nazaire, with the loss of at least 4,000 lives, immediate news of which is suppressed in the British press.
24 June –
Vichy France signs armistice terms with Italy.
28 June – General
Charles de Gaulle is officially recognized by Britain as "Leader of all
Free Frenchmen, wherever they may be."
3 July –
Attack on Mers-el-Kébir: British naval units sink or seize ships of the French fleet anchored in the
Algerian ports of
Mers El Kébir and
Oran to prevent them from falling into German hands.
4 July –
Vichy France breaks off diplomatic relations with Britain.
12 September –
Lascaux: 17,000-year-old
cave paintings are discovered by a group of young Frenchmen hiking through Southern France. The paintings depict animals and date to the
Stone Age.